Evening Post 1939 - 1

A spate of rumours and unauthorised reports may be expected to circulate throughout the Island in the early stages of the war in just the same manner as in 1914.

The “man who knows” and he who “had it on the highest authority” will retail the most fantastic of stories, and, unfortunately, those folk always find a small percentage of the public credulous enough to believe them and pass them on.

We ask our readers to take all such stories with even more than the proverbial grain of salt.

Remember that authentic news – whether good or bad – will be given by the BBC and the Press, and if neither of these vehicles of information carry the reports, then they are not worth a moment’s serious consideration.

To remain calm and keep our heads is the best service we can at present render our country and our Island.

Coal stocks in the Island are stated to be large but we would query if people who can afford it should be allowed to lay in stocks of five or six tons at a time, as some are alleged to be doing. It seems to us that half-ton lots should be enforced as the maximum, and so give the poorer people a chance to get the small amounts they can afford now before prices rise.

Dear Sir: In the report of the special sitting of the States yesterday, your paper stated:

"The President also referred to petitions as to the defence of the Island, which he read. One was from the Chamber of Commerce (laughter) which suggested an Island contribution for Imperial Defence."

The resolution which I had sent to the President of the Assembly of the States on 27 June last was as follows:

“That, having in view the necessary rearmament for Defence, the burden of which is borne by the people of the United Kingdom, it is the opinion of the Executive Council of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce that the States of Jersey might consider the position of the Island with a view to a voluntary contribution being given to His Majesty’s Treasury.

That, in the Executive Council’s opinion, an Island contribution towards the cost of meeting the common danger would have the approval of everyone.”

As your readers will be well able to judge for themselves whether, to the ordinary mind, the occasion was a fitting one for laughter, I do not comment on the proceedings as reported.

Yours faithfully,

We have withheld a certain number of letters from publication as we do not consider that in a time of crisis any good purpose is served by irritating criticism on minor points of officials who are all trying to do their best.

In an official advertisement the Island Defence Committee notifies retailers of food that they should not supply more than the normal weekly requirements of food to each of their customers.

By order of the authorities, The Cinema is closed until further notice but the café is open daily as usual daily from 10am.

The tragic death of Mr Frederich Wilhelm Buckhold, aged 65, a native of Magdeburg, Germany, one time Professor of German at Victoria College, was reported to the St Helier Police this morning.

Centenier C G Grant assumed charge and gathered that about 8.15 this morning Mrs Buckhold (nee Elsie Journeaux) on entering her husband’s room, found him lying on the floor with an eiderdown quilt under him, the gas being fully turned on. She opened the windows and called for help and later the doctor, who was called, confirmed the worst fears.

The inquiry was opened this afternoon at the General Hospital before C S Le Gros, Esq, (Viscount) and a Jury in the presence of C S Harrison (HM’s Solicitor-General).

Centenier C G Grant, of St Helier, said that at 9 o’clock this morning a message was received at the Police Station that a man had committed suicide at Delborgho Lodge, Upper Clarendon Road. P C Chillingsworth was despatched to take charge until the witness’s arrival. The ambulance and Dr Gallagher were called.

At 9.30 he saw the body of Mr Frederich Wilhelm Buckhold, born on March 22nd, 1874, lying on its back on an eiderdown, with two pillows under his head, on the floor in a bedroom. The pillows were placed directly over a brass gas tap such as is usually used to supply a gas fire. The windows had been opened before his arrival and there was only a slight smell of gas in the room.

Witness said he interviewed Mrs Elsie Maud Buckhold, widow of the deceased, and she stated that her husband had taken the recent international complications very much to heart.

Deceased was interned in England during the last war, and had been the German master at Victoria College for many years before the last war.

Mrs Buckhold said that her husband was troubled by the international situation and had told her on previous occasions that there would never be a repetition of 1914 and that they would never take him alive. The Jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.

We are asked by Jersey Airways to announce that all services including inter-Island have been cancelled. All Jersey Airways’ planes have been taken by the Government.

"The black-out last night in St Helier was very effective as far as I could see,” remarked the Constable of St Helier to an EP reporter this morning (Monday 4th). “I was round the town and outskirts until a very late hour and could see little at which to raise any real objection.”

In country districts, too, the black-out appeared to be loyally observed in most instances, but there were again far too many cases of cars using strong headlights and several were stopped by the police and drivers requested and advised to see to their lights.

There was also a good deal of torch flashing by irresponsible youths in the streets of town.

"That will die down in time,” remarked the Constable, when his attention was drawn to it by the EP man, “there is always a type of individual who thinks such conduct is clever, but when their batteries die down and they have difficulty in getting any more they will cease this practice.

"In the meantime the police will check it as far as possible.”

The waning holiday season and the seriousness of the international situation caused a big exodus from the Island this morning, not only of visitors anxious to get back home, but also many local men who have been called up for service.

There were many persons on the quays to see their relatives and friends off by the earlier boats, but the for departure of the Isle of Guernsey, timed for 11 am, the crowds thronged the roadway and upper walk of the Albert Pier.

There were some tear-dimmed eyes among those near the landing stage enclosure, but on the whole the women who were being separated from their sweethearts or husbands bore up bravely.

The departing reservists appeared to be in excellent mood, and cheers were raised as the Isle of Guernsey cast off. Two young men had cut it very fine. They raced on to the landing stage just as the last gangway had been withdrawn from the ship, but the boat was close enough for them to throw their attaché cases and brown paper parcels on board and climb the rails with the assistance of those on deck.

There was a considerable amount of vehicular traffic for the 11 o’clock boat, and at times there was some unavoidable congestion, but on the whole the control was as good as could be expected in the abnormal circumstances.

The total number of people leaving by the five outgoing steamers was 3,809, over 1,000 more than on the corresponding morning of last year. Of that total, the Isle of Guernsey carried 1,331, the highest number for any one ship this year.

It was pleasing to note that when the two dozen or so members of the JMT Company left by an early boat to join up, Mr F H Blakeway (manager of the company) was present to shake each man by the hand and wish him “Good luck and God-speed”.

An emergency meeting of the States of Jersey was held this morning (Monday 4 September) to pass certain regulations which have become necessary since Saturday. His Excellency the Lieut-Governor was present.

The President, addressing the Assembly after prayers, said he regretted having to call the States together so suddenly yesterday, but most of the members had no doubt heard in the broadcast announcements yesterday that today had been declared a Bank Holiday in view of the declaration of war. It was therefore necessary that we in Jersey should fall into line, and he had therefore prepared a resolution which he would submit to the Assembly. Had the Proclamation reached Jersey in time it could have been registered in the Royal Court, but they had nothing upon which to go except the broadcast and an official telegram.

The President then read the resolution which he had prepared, which declared that today was a Bank Holiday under the terms of the law governing such holidays, and this was duly adopted by the States unanimously.

The President pointed out that the day was merely a Bank Holiday for financial purposes, and not a holiday in the accepted sense of the word. Aliens

The President went on to say that during yesterday certain modifications became necessary in the Law regards the conduct of aliens and he asked the Attorney-General to explain the matter.

The Attorney-General said that he would submit two amendments or alterations to the existing law. One was to the effect that no alien should be allowed to embark without a permit from an Aliens Officer. Hitherto, he explained, aliens had to have landing permits, but there was nothing to prevent them leaving the Island for England. Under the new regulation no alien would be allowed to embark without a permit; this was necessary in view of the fact that certain ports in direct communication with Jersey were closed to aliens, and friendly aliens might find themselves in a quandary if they left Jersey without permits. The second part of the regulation laid it down that the change of address by an alien must be notified within 48 hours, instead of seven days as hitherto.

The proposition was duly adopted unanimously on the proposition of Jurat Le Masurier, duly seconded.

At Saturday's meeting Jurat Le Masurier referred to the Fire Brigade report submitted some time ago. Tests had been made and it was found water could be drawn from the bathing pools to provide a good supply of water at a distance.

The Defence Committee needed £5,050 for fire pumps, engines, booster appliances, hose and extension ladders. If the house had sanctioned the vote in the first instance a great deal of time would have been saved. As it was, it would be difficult to get the necessary appliances, and if there were big war fires in St Helier there would be a great deal of serious damage.

Deputy Ed Le Quesne asked who was going to use this new apparatus. Were they going to have a new Fire Brigade?

Jurat Dorey deplored the initial refusal of the House to entertain this matter. The Committee has submitted a report which had since proved accurate. It would be criminal to turn this down again and the responsibility for a serious fire would rest on the House. The Constable of St Helier had reported the inadequacy of the fire-fighting apparatus.

The vote was agreed to, only Deputy Ed Le Quesne voting against, the money to come from the £100,000 loan.

Every householder, if they can possibly afford it, should obtain what is known as a “stirrup pump”.

That, writes an EP reporter, was the most striking feature of an interesting demonstration on the ways and means of dealing with incendiary bombs given at the ARP School at Fort Regent yesterday (Friday 1st) under the direction of Major J C Manley, one of the ARP officials.

The demonstration was attended by employees of the Jersey Electricity Company, students of Maison St Louis, and others, and is to be given to all the large commercial firms in the Island.

Major Manley prefaced the demonstration with a few hints on gas mask fitting, methods of rescuing injured people from burning buildings, and details of incendiary bombs. The bomb, he pointed out, is used not to cause an explosion, but primarily to start a fire.

A medium-sized bomber carries 2,000 bombs in special cells, electrically controlled. The bombs are dropped in twenties and in a district like the East End of London could cause untold havoc. A squad of three men took part in the demonstration in which a blazing “building” was put out in a very short space of time.

A demonstration bomb was used to start a fire, and once the building was well ablaze the fire squad got busy.

The first man reconnoitred the blaze and then crept forward into the building with the pump hose ready for use. The nozzle of this has the great advantage that it can be readily adjusted to supply either a spray or jet.

While his assistants pumped away, the fire-fighter started on his work, and eventually had the satisfaction of getting the blaze out.

The great secret of his success, and in fact the essential feature of dealing with incendiary bombs was that he left the bomb to the last.

Whilst it burned away the fire-fighter was concentrated on extinguishing blazing furniture etc and only when this was out did he worry about the bomb.

The value of the pump has to be seen to be believed. It only uses about two buckets of water in extinguishing a blaze, and in this time of emergency it is surely a necessity.

8d per mile

Island Drives 6d

May we remind you that it is possible to have your curtains dyed - navy blue, brown, dark green or black at the shortest possible notice and save expense at this critical time.

Cory’s, the master cleaners

38 Bath Street, Tel 190

30 La Motte Street, Tel 2422